Asante Kotoko held FC Nouadhibou to a 1-1 drawn game at the at Stade Cheikha Boidiya in Mauritania capital city of Nouakchott on Sunday evening in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.
The first leg encounter was closely contested between the two sides but the Porcupine Warriors complained about the decision of Malian referee Gaoussou Kane to award a penalty to the home team.
Kotoko took an early lead in the 5th minute through Osman Ibrahim who scored his fist goal of the season on the service of Emmanuel Gyamfi after which the team of Maxwell Konadu grew in confidence but the Mauritania champions equalized through Hemeya Tanji from the spot in the 22nd minute.
“BIZZARE!! Yussif Mubarik goes for a one-on-one tackle with his hands folded at his back. The ball hits his belly but the referee has whistled for a penalty, and the resulting kick is in. It’s 1-1.” Kotoko tweeted following the Nouadhibou equalizer.
Kotoko coach Maxwell Konadu kept nine players in his starting team from their last game against Berekum Chelsea as Kwame Baah for the first time this season started as goalkeeper due to the absence of Felix Annan who is out injured and defender Mubarik Yussif returned to the line-up once again.
Midfielder Emmanuel Keyeke (pictured in red colors above) picked an injury in the first half and was replaced by Muniru Sulley at the start of the second period whist Evans Adomako took the place of goalscorer Osman Ibrahim.
The Ghanaian team went all trying to win the game but the scoreline would remain 1-1.
The second leg will take place between 4th to 6th December 2020 in Accra.
